Sent into bat, RR’s in-form openers got off to a terrific start as Jos Buttler (79 off 51) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (60 off 31) added 98 runs for the opening wicket in 8.3 overs. Jaiswal was in exceptional form from the very start, hammering 11 fours and one six in his excellent knock. The opening stand was broken when Jaiswal was caught and bowled by Mukesh Kumar.
RR skipper Sanju Samson fell without scoring, skying a big hit off Kuldeep Yadav. Riyan Parag (7) was then bowled by Rovman Powell as he missed his heave. At 126/3, Delhi had done well to pull back Rajasthan. However, Buttler carried on batting in dominant fashion. Like his opening partner Jaiswal, he also struck 11 fours and a six. His fine innings ended when he was caught and bowled by Kumar. Shimron Hetmyer (39 not out off 21) then struck one four and four sixes to prove the final flourish to Rajasthan’s innings.
Chasing 200, DC lost Impact Player Prithvi Shaw for a duck as he was brilliantly caught by Samson off Trent Boult’s (3/29) bowling. Manish Pandey (0) was then trapped lbw for a golden duck. Rilee Rossouw perished to Ravichandran Ashwin (2/25) for 14. David Warner (65 off 55) and Lalit Yadav (38 off 24) added 64 for fourth wicket to give the DC innings a lift.
Boult, however, returned to clean up Yadav after which Axar Patel, Rovman Powell and Abishek Porel all fell for single-figure scores. Warner’s fighting knock ended when he was trapped lbw by Yuzvendra Chahal (3/27). In the end, DC crawled towards 150 as RR registered a comprehensive win.
Speaking after being named Player of the Match, Jaiswal said, “I have worked hard. Trying to express myself. Learning is important for me. Growing as a young player is important for me. In my mind, I was like if it is a loose ball I will hit it. I think everything I learn from Buttler. I try to see how he practices. I knew I can take on a few bowlers.”
--By A Cricket Correspondent